Hi
I am doing a project in design at school and was thinking about improving a back band. Does anyone have any problems with them breaking or the ratchet systems break while on the river. it there any other problems that you could think of. this would roved me with so excellent information.
thank you

The ratchet system works fine functionally, as far as I am concered. The problem comes with placement of the ratchet's. Wavesport puts the where they show through you skirt. My skirt has started to wear there faster then in other spots. I actually like how dagger retains there back bands the best. Riot also does a good job of the ratchet system. They have it routed so that the straps and buckles end up between you legs. The only problem with that is that you loose a spot for a water bottle.

Cool,

I gave up on rachet backbands and moved to the Jackson rope system.

I found that the ratchet strap tends to fail at the screw hoint between the backband and the ratchet.
This is from my personal experience with my own personal boats and the rental fleet. If they are going to fail it has always been at the worst time (half way down a a long and/or remote trip, etc)

I got in the habit of carrying extra straps and ratchet parts.

Riot has successfully improved this by putting the strap on the seat between your lets (see unity seat). The 90 degree change in direction of the backband strap before it gets to the ractchet takes a lot of the direct loatd to the joint away.

Find a way to spread the tension load over a larger area without adding weight and you will have made the backband of the year. (Ratchets are great cause they are easy to use and infinitely adjustable but the y are plastic and have weak spot at the screw location).

The jackson rope method is (in my opinion) far superior.
But it too has it's weaknesses that are easilly overcome.
The system is simple and if you set itup right you will not blow the backband.
It too requires some additional love though: I replaced the rope with a higher quality spectra rope: the original rope wore at the carabiner. I also replaced the cleats with aluminum cleats from a sail boat shop. make sure you use a small amount of tape to prevent the carabiner form opening. If it opens while under tension it will distort. (FYI: I still carry extra rope).

Good luck with the project.

Riot does do a good job on the back band routing. The problem I have with it is that it digs into my back no matter how it is set up. I also find that as soon as I roll the Flair it falls off of my back. If you leave it where it is supposed to be it just pinches my ass and doesn't offer support. I am supposed to get 07 riot's at my store this week so I will let you know how the outfitting is in them if they have solved any of the problems I have found.

Check out another thread too for outfitting: playak.com/index.php?option=com_joomlabo...107&id=9384#9384

Thanks for all the advice. it has been really useful and are getting lots of ideas.
if there is anything else i would love to here it.
cheers

One of the largest current issues with backbands is the combination of a backband that stays up, but can be moved out of the way for good stern access. Every boat I have paddled is a compromise on this, Pyranha's backbands don't stay up as well as liquidlogic's do, and liquidlogics take more work to move out of the way for stern access. Would be nice to have a backband that wont fall down but moves completly out of the way or could be removed temporarly with a minimum of effort.

So I did try the new Riot Boat today. I was in a Flair 57. The backband was comfortable if a bit on the firm side. I found that in an eddy it was noticable but while paddling it was not uncomfortable. I do really like how they route the strap for tensioning the back band. That is one thing they have definitly done right.